2009 · 15 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2009 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet MOT pass rate and common faults

856 MOT tests in 2024. 65.5% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

112Well above average
Passed first time65.5%
Failed or needed repairs34.5%
Typical mileage at test63,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 856 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.5%
  2. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.4%
  3. Position lamp: not working4.0%
  4. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded3.5%
  5. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.1%
  6. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam1.8%
  7. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect1.6%
  8. Parking brake performance: inoperative on one side1.6%
  9. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.5%
    19 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics19.3%
  2. Brakes15.5%
  3. Suspension13.1%
  4. Emissions & leaks6.1%
  5. Tyres5.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.1%
  7. Body & chassis2.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded16.1%
  2. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure12.5%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm9.9%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine6.4%
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding5.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

In 2024, 65.5% of 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet cars passed their MOT first time, across 856 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; service brake performance: excessively binding; position lamp: not working. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 112, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).